FamilyMart, Five Japanese Chains
To Form an E-Commerce Alliance

a Wall Street Journal Staff Reporter

Updated Jan. 12, 2000 12:01 a.m. ET

TOKYO -- FamilyMart Co. and four other Japanese convenience-store operators are planning an e-commerce partnership that will put online shopping terminals in each of their combined 12,473 stores by early 2001, a FamilyMart spokeswoman said.

Customers will be able to use the terminals to download music and games as well as buy concert and travel tickets. The five stores, which also include Circle K Japan Co., Sunkus & Associates...